Diablo Road Trail Faces Cascading Delays From Nesting Birds, PG&E Wires

The Danville Town Council's April 7 meeting was light on votes but heavy on operational detail, as Town Manager Tai Williams laid out a growing list of obstacles threatening the Diablo Road trail project — from protected bird nests to PG&E guide wires — all against a ticking clock. The council also proclaimed April Alcohol Awareness Month and National Library Week, passed a consent calendar dissolving a decades-old assessment district, and adjourned in memory of a beloved community leader.

• Diablo Road trail project stalled by nesting birds and PG&E guide wires, with an April 15 bat-season deadline looming

• Council adopts Resolution No. 24-2026 to begin dissolving Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 1983-1

• Pavilion makerspace construction set to begin mid-August after years of planning

• Oak Hill Park pond undergoing clarity treatment that will look worse before Memorial Day improvement

• Meeting adjourned in memory of Candace Hendra, Senior Advisory Commission chair

Nesting Season, PG&E Wires Threaten Diablo Road Trail Timeline

Town Manager Tai Williams delivered an extensive monthly report, but the Diablo Road trail project dominated council attention, with every council member pressing for details on the multiplying complications.

Why it matters: What began as a single discovered nest has escalated into a multi-front delay involving state wildlife regulators, utility coordination, and seasonal deadlines that compound on each other. Residents eager for the trail — and the council members who championed it — are watching the window for construction narrow.

Where things stand: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted a daily biologist on-site to monitor nests discovered in multiple locations, including near the McGee Preserve Trail intersection and a large tree leaning over Diablo Road. Meanwhile, PG&E guide wires crossing the trail path present a separate obstacle — only PG&E can relocate them.

"We are all hoping quickly that the birds will fledge soon by our April 15 deadline, because by then we run into what is called bat season and that's when bats nest in our trees, apparently," said Williams.

Councilmember Karen Stepper pressed for clarification on the PG&E wires, asking whether they were newly installed or old infrastructure. Councilmember Mark Belotz questioned PG&E's responsiveness given the project timeline. Vice Mayor Robert Storer noted that what started as one nest has multiplied and asked whether they were clustered or spread across the trail corridor.

Mayor Newell Arnerich disclosed a potential breakthrough: PG&E's new CEO is a Danville resident, and a meeting has already been arranged with PG&E leadership.

"We have a meeting already set up with him. PG&E reorganized, they have two divisions, so there are two CEOs. He's the new one. And Sarah Yoel, who also lives in Danville, PG&E Government Affairs. We're all meeting specifically to talk about this," Arnerich said.

Councilmember Renee Morgan took a practical tack, asking whether the town had tried bird deterrents — like CDs or reflective tape — to prevent birds from continuing to nest in construction zones.

What's next: The April 15 bat-season deadline is the immediate inflection point. If birds haven't fledged by then, the project faces a second layer of wildlife restrictions. The mayor's arranged meeting with PG&E leadership could accelerate the guide-wire issue, but no timeline has been set for resolution.

Oak Hill Park Pond Gets Multi-Year Clarity Treatment

Also in his report, Town Manager Tai Williams detailed a new pond clarity treatment at Oak Hill Park that residents should be aware of — primarily because it will temporarily make the water look worse.

"Within this three-week period of time, it gets worse before it gets better. So we've put out a lot of signs to let people know that there's nothing wrong with the pond, but there's treatment underway and our goal is for the pond to be clearer before Memorial Day weekend," Williams said.

Councilmember Renee Morgan asked whether the treatment would harm wildlife that uses the pond. Williams indicated the treatment would not.

Council Moves to Dissolve 40-Year-Old Assessment District

Decisions: The consent calendar passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0) on a motion by Councilmember Renee Morgan, seconded by Councilmember Karen Stepper. The package included Resolution No. 24-2026 declaring the town's intent to dissolve Danville Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 1983-1, along with the March 17 meeting minutes and the Register of Demands.

Why it matters: The assessment district dates to 1983, and its dissolution could shift landscape and lighting maintenance funding responsibilities for affected property owners. The town's education campaign around the LLAD was recognized as a statewide finalist for the 2026 CAPIO Epic Awards, with results expected by May 13.

What's next: Formal dissolution will require subsequent public hearing steps. Property owners within the district should monitor upcoming agendas.

Danville Honors MADD, Recalls Its Own DUI Law Legacy

Mayor Newell Arnerich read an extensive proclamation declaring April 2026 Alcohol Awareness Month, citing CDC statistics: approximately 178,000 alcohol-related deaths per year in the United States, 28 million people affected by alcohol use disorder, and elevated risk for youth who begin drinking before age 15.

The mayor placed the proclamation in local context, recalling that Danville played a role more than 20 years ago in changing California state law so that prior DUI convictions could be presented to judges and juries, with mandatory jail time on a second conviction.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Program Specialist Aliya Gonsalves, based in Dublin, accepted the proclamation and described the organization's outreach work.

"I myself go out and give presentations to high schoolers, middle schoolers, parents, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, anyone who's willing to listen, really. We're here to spread awareness, education to youth because they are our future," Gonsalves said.

Arnerich also thanked MADD for recognizing a Danville police officer the previous year for DUI enforcement work.

Danville Library Marks 30 Years of Defying the Skeptics

The council proclaimed April 19–25 National Library Week under the theme "Find your Joy," with Interim Senior Community Library Manager Marlia Holmes — temporarily assigned from the Pinole-Rodeo branches — accepting the proclamation.

Holmes described designated days during the week, including Right to Read Day, National Library Workers Day, Outreach Day, and Take Action for Libraries Day. She also shared her own path through the system.

"I started my library career as a library page and 18 years later I have the privilege and honor of serving as the interim Senior Community Library Manager of Danville Library," Holmes said.

Mayor Newell Arnerich noted that when the library opened in 1996, it became the single largest branch by circulation in the county system — a distinction it still holds 30 years later.

"There were people, I remember when we opened the first library, were worried that, oh, this is a waste of time. The Internet's going to put libraries out of business, and you just have to be there at just about any time of the day to see how well it's used," Arnerich said.

Minor Items

• Pavilion makerspace construction set to begin mid-August, announced by Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Chair Carol Mascali, who called it a highlight after years of planning. The commission also approved a fiberglass book bench design and batting cage lighting at Sycamore Valley Park.

• All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park to add 60 five-gallon plants and a new quotation, with a ribbon-cutting requested for Memorial Day, per Vice Mayor Robert Storer.

• San Ramon Valley Boulevard storm drain maintenance involves a large machine pulling sediment from a 1,000-linear-foot stretch; expected to last about a week with significant noise for nearby residents.

• Town Talks podcast launched, with the police chief as the first guest on the new series.

• Emergency preparedness: The town is exploring ham radio backup communication systems with the fire district and San Ramon, described by Town Manager Williams as "really the last line of defense" if power, energy, and backup generators fail.

• Transportation advisory reports (items 7.3 and 7.4) from Danville representative Michael Carr were continued to a future meeting due to his absence.

• Meeting adjourned in memory of Candace Hendra, chair of the Senior Advisory Commission, who passed away from cancer. Mayor Arnerich recalled that five years ago, on Nov. 21, she achieved one million yards of swimming at Club Sport, reflecting her remarkable discipline and community spirit.